A Parent's list of 'Life Essentials'

10th December 2017

What life essential could you not live without, now your multiples are in your life?

We recently asked our supporters what thing they simply couldn’t live without. From the practical (breastfeeding pillow anyone?) to the parenting luxury (a coffee and five minutes to myself) we loved all the answers.

But while many of them were items you can buy in a shop, it seems the best support a parent can have is their amazing partner, friends and family. You know the type – they turn up knowing you need help even though you didn’t tell them, they bring round a lasagne to freeze when you’ve just got home from hospital and they chat with a duster in one hand while making you a tea so you can have five minutes of cuddle time before the babies wake up.

“Our play pen. A safe area to play in while you get on with the bazillion things you need to do.” – Katie

“My husband for sure! And a feeding schedule. We’re three months in and apart from the first feed of the day we know exactly when to prepare.”– Ellie. If you need help to get feeding on track, click here.

“My own bed.” – Jovan

“A sense of humour. And my husband.” – Linzi

“Tamba discount on Clarks.” – Katy. We’re with you Katy. If you want to access this and loads of other discounts and offers at top brands, click here.

“Routine and planning. And as they grow older, the confidence to accept that being flexible and just letting things happen sometimes is okay. Also coffee. And time for a bit of relaxation, which I wish I had found sooner.”– Shelley. If you’re a parent of multiples in secondary school or older, click here for more support.

“Some kind of bouncy chair or oscillating chair. And later on the heaven-sent jumperoo.” – Carla

“The car.” – Michael

“My breastfeeding pillow.”– Julia

“My microwave steriliser, bouncy chairs and changing table. Absolute essentials. Back then and since, my husband, the in-laws and all my friends who’ve been there to listen and offer helpful advice and an extra pair of hands at feed times.” – Clare. If you’d like another listener to be there for you too, our Twinline service is answered by volunteer multiples parents. Call 0800 138 0509 10am-1pm and 7pm-10pm or email asktwinline@tamba.org.uk

“A travel mug so I could have a warm cup of tea.”– Kas

“Their favourite TV show.” – Victoria

“Chocolate.” – Sharon

“Side-by-side lightweight buggy.” – Matt

“The camera. It allowed me to record, capture and watch moments to cherish that my harried memory would otherwise have lost.”– Rachel. We love looking at all your great pictures too. If you’d like your photos to be featured in our member magazine Multiple Matters, email them to multiplematters@hotmail.co.uk with ‘Photo Gallery’ in the subject line and a 15-word explanation.

“Supermarket shopping delivery.”– Samantha

“My jogging stroller with bike tyres. Always an adventure with the twins.” – Tiana. When your twins, triplets and more are ready to get active check out our Movement for Multiples page.